Welcome to The Bethlehem Shop, our one family sized effort to stand in solidarity with the beautiful mixed Christian-Muslim population of Bethlehem City, Palestine. Bethlehem is one of the oldest mixed Christian-Muslim populations in the world, and it is an example of community harmony that needs to be preserved as an example to all. But like any community its social relations are vulnerable when
the economy is under strain. As an internationally important city, Bethlehem has long been a place of welcome for millions of travelling pilgrims and tourists from across the world, and as such, the local craft industry has grown into a vital part of the city's economy. Today, however, Bethlehem is facing very difficult times due to the building of the Wall around the city and the steep decline in visitors. It is therefore vital that we continue to support the artisans of Bethlehem by shipping their goods out, and The Bethlehem Shop is our part in this effort. As a new concept in using business to support social activism, we founded the Bethlehem Shop because we wanted to both support the people of the city and raise awareness of their situation at the same time. Practically speaking, this means that running the shop also enables us to give presentations on the situation in the city and help spread the word about the injustices faced by its population. Thanks for your support!
